September18, 2018

Both the Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances (SALTS) Act and the Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act passed the Senate as part of the Opioid Crisis Response Act

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that two of her bipartisan bills to crack down on synthetic opioids have passed the Senate as part of the Opioid Crisis Response Act. The Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances (SALTS) Act, which Klobuchar introduced with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), would make it easier to prosecute the sale and distribution of “analogue” drugs, which are synthetic substances that are substantially similar to illegal drugs. The Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, which Klobuchar introduced with Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), would help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States.

“In Minnesota and across the country, no place has been immune from the devastating effects of opioid abuse. Passing this comprehensive, bipartisan legislation is a step toward combating this epidemic,” Klobuchar said. “My bills will specifically address the dangers of synthetics opioids. The SALTS Act will help law enforcement agencies to combat new synthetic drugs the minute they enter the market by closing a loophole that allows drug dealers to skirt the law by pretending that these dangerous drugs are not intended for human consumption. The STOP Act will help ensure that synthetic drugs aren’t transported from overseas through our postal system.”

As a former Hennepin County Attorney, Klobuchar has long led local and national efforts to curb drug abuse and help people overcome addiction. In February, Klobuchar and Senators Portman, Hassan, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 Act. The bill would increase the funding authorization levels for the CARA programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic.

To build on the monumental first step of CARA, Klobuchar also introduced the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act, which would require the use of strong prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) in all states that receive certain federal funding to combat opioid abuse and also requires states to make their PDMP data available to other states. Last year, she and ten other senators introduced the Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment (LifeBOAT) Act, which would establish a reliable funding stream to provide and expand access to substance abuse treatment.